Hernandez

I'll look forward to it and see if Phelan implements his own style. As it is he's just continued the new formation that Steve bruce started in pre season. Something this board are in complete denial about.

 

Phelan's test comes now that he has a few choices .. I have to say with what he has had to play with he has done exceptionally well but twt

 

Jon Smith the agent says that most fans don't realise why so many substitutions happen around 60 mins.
It's often to do with appearance money linked to pitch time, contractual payment clauses and the like.
Which makes all this armchair management stuff look even sillier when you realise the manager is having his hand forced by the player or the club to sub him/ bring him on at a time in the club's best financial interest.

Unless of course the latest generation of armchair managers have access to the contracts of our players?

 

Hey! Bring those goalposts back.
We are discussing last season and your dissatisfaction with the quality of football, and you mentioned substitutions.
I mentioned what an agent said about the timings of many substitutions, and how they can trigger contract extensions or payments etc.
It can't be proven one way or the other about specific players in specific games.
Unless you know different?

 

Sorry if it doesn't fit into the anti Bruce narrative on this forum.

 

We really havent.

 

We've been comprehensively out-attacked in every game (measured in shots).
We've yet to enjoy more then 50% possession in any game.
It's great we've got 6 points out of 9, but the stats don't back it up.
Sooner or later gravity will kick in.

 

I actually think we have.

 

Perhaps we have one of the best defences in the league.

Our problem has been the lack of a creative attacking midfielder who can carry the ball through the middle. As a result the vast majority of our attacks come from the wings. Last season if a team stopped us playing wide they usually come away with at least a point. Weknow have a creative midfielder and an old fashioned centre forward. If Phelan plays them I expect to see us increase the number of goals we score.

Gravity will only kick in if our defence falls apart.

 

I disagree Chazz - I also think we have. I think a large part of that is down to the pre match preparation.

It's picking up on what a few of the players have said both pre and post match about players knowing the game plan - seems to be much more thorough under Phelan.

Even his interviews are for me more positive, I'm not knocking Bruce, he was great for us. But some of his interviews before games were so downbeat. You wonder how much of his negativity transferred to the players? It must have.

 

We've been behind for 2 mins out of 270 mins.
What will happen if we concede an early goal and have to chase the game?
What will happen when other clubs' scouts probe our weaknesses?
What will happen if Robbo gets injured and or another defender is also ruled out?

 

Leicester were crowned PL Champions last season by averaging 43% possession. Possession means nothing - it's what you do with it when you have it that matters.

 

I imagine he was sick of having to hold the club together both in public and private.....

 

I agree but also city man has a point. We set up for a draw and we concede. One of those Man U chances could easily have gone in. What then?

Phelan has a huge game coming up against a wily operator in Dyche. Having no choices is easy. Now what does he do? It will be interesting which way he goes. Keep it the same team or make the changes.

 

Agreed that possession is no guarantee of success.
But generally more possession means more wins.

 

Burnley v Liverpool prime example?

 

Extreme example.

Do you think Dyche will be aiming to have even less possession in future games?